Florida News

FLORIDA – The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) and
Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office
announced charges against three individuals
connected to a video of a shark being
dragged behind a boat at high speed. The
charges resulted from a four-month long
investigation into the video and other
disturbing images on social media involving
shocking disregard for Florida’s natural
resources.

“As we’ve said since this video and other
images came to light, these actions have no
place in Florida, where we treasure and
conserve our natural resources for
everyone,” said Commission Chairman Bo
Rivard. “We appreciate the patience and
support of the public as our law enforcement
investigators worked with the Hillsborough
County State Attorney’s Office to identify a
number of serious violations that will be
brought to the courts for adjudication.

Mr. Rivard continued, "It is our hope
these charges will send a clear message to
others that this kind of behavior involving
our fish and wildlife will not be
tolerated.”

State Attorney Andrew H. Warren weighed
in

Screen capture from the video that went
viral on the net. Look carefully and one can
see the eye of Neptune in the wake.

“The State Attorney’s Office is committed
to holding these men accountable for having
engaged in such senseless and unjustifiable
animal cruelty. We thank the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission for
their work in investigating these crimes,
and we stand with them, along with Florida’s
fishing and hunting communities, and all
those who cherish our precious natural
resources in condemning the torture of our
marine wildlife,” said Andrew H. Warren,
State Attorney for the 13th Judicial
Circuit.

During the course of the investigation,
FWC officers confirmed numerous criminal
violations, resulting in felony and
misdemeanor charges. Investigators conducted
exhaustive research into the suspects’
social media activity, conducted numerous
interviews and spoke with a number of
subject matter experts on sharks.

The public can help by reporting
suspected violations to the FWC. To make a
report, call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at
888-404-FWCC (3922) or text Tip@MyFWC.com.